The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-01-22
JOHN N. WILSON HANGED.
The Singular Circumstances Connected
with Wilson's Arrest and
Conviction.


John M. Wilson was hanged in the jail
yard hsre, on Thursday, for the murder Of
Anthony w. Dealy, in February, 1886, in
Montgomery County, near the Philadelphia
city line. Wilson read speeck from the
scaffold. He confessed his guilt. and said
his death In expation OF the crime should
be warning &c all persons who had become
victims TO strong drink. His body was cut
down and handed over TO a physician to
whom he had willed it.
The history of the crime for which John
nj. Wilson paid the extreme penalty, and
the manner of his conviction, are probably
without parallel in the annals of criminal
history. But for confession, which the
murderer afterward denied, the death OF
Anthony Dealy would never have been ac-
counted for, and probably another and an
innocent man would have been hanged for
another crime whichfis most curiously in
terwoven with that for which Wilson suf-
fered.
In October, 1855, Frederick Stahl,
butcher who worked for Albert Dieterle at
No. 800 Moore street, Philadelphia, sud
denly dropped out of sight. He had lived
with Adolph Scheuringer, saloon
whom he had deposited 800 for
safe keeping. Weeks passed, and Stahl
was not heard from. Then Scheu-
ringer said that Stahl had been muir
dered, and accused Albert Die.erle who
owed Stihl money! Of the crime. In the
following March the headless and dis
WONDERED trunk of a human being was
found floating in the Wissahickon Greek,
in Fairmount Park. A further search was
made, and one leg and one arm were found.
Scheuringers charge That Dieterie had
murdered his employe was renewed, and
when at the inquest the body was identified
as that of Stahl, Deterle was arrested.
On Sunday, Oct 4, 1885, a peculiar
looking man walked into the West Twelfth
Street Station in Chicago, and said that he
was murderer. He said he had killed a
man named Anthony Dealy near Philadel-
phia in January, and after sewing the body
In sacks had thrown IL in the Wissahickon
Greek. The next day he repeated the same
story, but in more detail. He said he had
been employed by one Anthony Dealy for
several months on a farm near Pbiladel-
phia. He quarreled with Dealy about $50
which was due him, and then, picking up a
cleaver, struck the man on the head, kill
ing him instantly. He then cut off the
victims head and hid il between two
barn. aud, cutting off the legs and arms,
hid them in a feed-box. Then he went TO
the creek aud selected a place in which TO
throw the dissected body. That night he
put the head in bag along with n lot of
stones. The body and limbs were placed
| in other sacks, and, with the aid Of sleigh
and horse, Wilson took his CHASTITY load 10
the place selected and threw II overheard.
He then went 10 Philadelphia, and, after
spending his money for drink, returned 10
the house and set II on fire. II was en-
tirely destroyed, and he said Dealy's family
supposed he was burned up in il.
The trial, which was begun March 8 last,
lasted several days and was very sensa-
tional in its character. Stahls brother. his
friend, Scheuringer, and others who knew
Stahl we'll still swore that the body found
in the river was that Of the missing butcher
| A score of others swore that IL was that OF
Anthony Dealy. They related the burning
of the house and the disappearance of Will
son, who was known To them as "Sailoi
Jack. the day OF the FIRE, and when the
police found the watch which had belonged
TO Dealy and proved that II had been taken
from Wilson while drunk n few days after
the fire the evidence was complete. Con-
viction quickly followed.
The whereabouts OF Frederick Stahl are
still n mystery. The resemblance OF the
two men, Stahl and Dealy, was remark
able. They wore the same size hat, both
were left handed, both had their right
shoulders higher than the left, both were
OF medium height, both had scars on the
right hand, both had small mustaches, red
hair, and bald spots on the top of then
heads. Had not Wilson's confession been
corroborated In every particular has conyic-
ton could hardly have been had. Ina view
of the remarkable resemblance Of the miss
ing butcher.